Closure for bottles

ABSTRACT

A closure for bottles having either unpressurized or pressurized contents. A plug similar to a conventional cork is press fitted in the neck of the bottle and a head or nut is provided. The outer end of the plug is externally threaded and the head is internally threaded so that upon turning the head the plug is moved axially outwardly of the neck of the bottle. A modification of the invention adapted for use on pressurized contents such as champagne includes an axially extending skirt provided with a radially inwardly extending flange adapted to grip the conventional annular bead at the outer end of the neck of the bottle so as to resist the internal pressure.

United States Patent [19-1 Arnold CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES [76] Inventor: Carter H. Arnold, 317 Rocky Point Rd., Palos Verdes, Calif. 90274 [22] Filed: July 5, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 269,118

[ Nov. 27, 1973 Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton Att0rneyGordon Wood [5 7 ABSTRACT A closure for bottles having either unpressurized or pressurized contents. A plug similar to a conventional cork is press fitted in the neck of the bottle and a head or nut is provided. The outer end of the plug is externally threaded and the head is internally threaded so that upon turning the head the plug is moved axially outwardly of the neck of the bottle. A modification of the invention adapted for use on pressurized contents such as champagne includes an axially extending skirt provided with a radially inwardly extending flange adapted to grip the conventional annular bead at the outer end of the neck of the bottle so as to resist the internal pressure.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES This invention relates to bottle closures of the cork type in which a cork or plug is press fitted into the neck of the bottle. The invention is adapted for use with unpressutized contents such as still wine and a modified form is provided for use with pressurized contents such as champagne.

Heretofore the common procedure in bottling still wines has been to insert a cork under pressure into the neck of the bottle to maintain the desired seal. Removal of such conventional corks is troublesome and sometimes dangerous even when an efficient corkscrew or other cork removal device is provided. The main object of the present invention is therefore the provision of an improved bottle closure or cork which includes means for removing the cork readily and quickly regardless of the tightness of the plug or cork within the bottle neck. The present invention obviates the use of any mechanism such as a corkscrew or other type of cork removing apparatus.

Another object of the invention is'the provision of a novel closure that is particularly adapted for use either with still wines and other unpressurized contents and is also adapted for use with pressurized contents such as champagne.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification and from the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the plug and the associated head.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross section through the neck of a bottle showing the closure inserted therein.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation partly in sections showing a modified form of the invention that is adapted for use with bottles containing pressurized contents, such as champagne.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the bottle neck showing the lower end of the closure.

In detail and first with reference to FIG. 1 the invention comprises an elongated plug generally designated 1 adapted to be press fitted within the neck of a bottle. At the upper end of the plug the same is provided with an enlarged portion which is formed with rounded threads 2. The bottom end of the plug may be tapered as indicated at 3 to facilitate insertion of the plug into the bottle when the contents of the latter are sealed.

Cooperating with plug 1 is a generally cylindrical head 5 which is provided with internal threads 6 complementary to threads 2 so that the plug 1 may be screwed into the head 5 as indicated in FIG. 2. In order to enhance a person s grip on the head 5 the cylindrical outer surface of the latter may be knurled as indicated.

Intermediate the ends of plug 1 the same may be formed with a plurality of annular ridges 8 for the purpose of enhancing the seal between the plug 1 and the inner side walls of the neck 10 of the bottle.

From FIG. 2 it will be apparent that when it is desired to open the bottle, it is a simple matter to turn the head 5 in a clockwise direction looking downwardly at the top of the same so that the bottom of the head 5 abuts the top 11 of the bottle neck causing the plug 1 to be moved axially outwardly of the bottle neck. It will be noted that it is not necessary for the depth of the head 5 or the length of the threads 2 to be sufficient to completely withdrawthe plug 1 from the bottle neck while the threads 2 and 6 are in engagement. It is merely necessary'that the plug 1 be withdrawn from the bottle neck 10 sufficiently so that the major resistance to removal of the plug is overcome.

The modified form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 3, 4 wherein a head 15 is provided which is identical in construction to head 5 except that it is provided with a downwardly extending skirt 16 which extends peripherally around the head 15 for substantially more than half the circumference of the latter as seen in FIG. 4. The skirt 16 is provided at its lower end with aradially inwardly directed flange 17 which is preferably formed at its upper side to conform to the generally arcuate shape of the conventional bead l9 surrounding the outer end of the bottle neck 20.

As best seen in FIG. 4 the skirt 16 is slightly longer than half the periphery of head 15 and terminates in ends 22, 23. These ends 22, 23 are spaced apart a distance about equal to the outer diameter of the bottle neck 20 so that the head 15 may be removed from the neck of the bottle by moving the head laterally in the direction indicated in FIG. 4. By this structure sufficient resistance is provided to prevent the closure from being blown off by the pressure of the contents and at the same time the plug 1 of head 15 may be readily removed in the same manner as above described. However, in this case the plug 1 may be turned manually within the head 15 until said plug is removed before re-.

moving the head 15 as described above.

If there is not sufficient resiliency in the skirt 16 to permit the flange 17 to be snapped over the bead 19 when one closure is forced into the bottle the skirt l6 and 17 may be slitted as indicated at 25 (FIG. 4). Such a slit does not detract from the ability of the closure to resist the internal pressure.

I claim:

1. A closure for a bottle having a neck formed with inner smooth cylindrical sidewalls and a radially outwardly projecting annular ridge on the outer side thereof, said closure comprising:

a generally cylindrical plug adapted to be pressed into said neck in tight engagement with said sidewalls,

a head at the outer end of said plug receiving the outer end of said plug therein and adapted to abut the outer end of said neck,

said head and said plug being formed with complementarily formed screw threads whereby said plug may be moved axially outwardly of said neck by turning said head relative to said plug and against said outer end of said neck,

said head including downwardly projecting skirt extending below the outer end of said neck,

said skirt being formed with a radially inwardly extending flange for engaging under such radially outwardly projecting ridge.

2. A closure according to claim 1 wherein said flange extends around said neck a peripheral distance less than the periphery of said ridge to permit said head to be removed laterally of said neck after said plug has been removed from said neck. 

1. A closure for a bottle having a neck formed with inner smooth cylindrical sidewalls and a radially outwardly projecting annular ridge on the outer side thereof, said closure comprising: a generally cylindrical plug adapted to be pressed into said neck in tight engagement with said sidewalls, a head at the outer end of said plug receiving the outer end of said plug therein and adapted to abut the outer end of said neck, said head and said plug being formed with complementarily formed screw threads whereby said plug may be moved axially outwardly of said neck by turning said head relative to said plug and against said outer end of said neck, said head including downwardly projecting skirt extending below the outer end of said neck, said skirt being formed with a radially inwardly extending flange for engaging under such radially outwardly projecting ridge.
 2. A closure according to claim 1 wherein said flange extends around said neck a peripheral distance less than the periphery of said ridge to permit said head to be removed laterally of said neck after said plug has been removed from said neck. 